New meningitis vaccine launched

A new vaccination to protect children against meningitis has been launched in Northern Ireland today.

Pneumococcal meningitis is more life-threatening than other major types of meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning) infections.

The disease affects around 350 children throughout the UK each year, resulting in approximately 50 deaths. Around half of the survivors are left with some form of permanent disability that can be as severe as brain damage, deafness, and cerebral palsy.

The vaccine will not only save children's lives but will spare at least 100 more children from suffering the devastating after effects of the infection.

The jab costs £34.50 a shot, more than all the other childhood vaccines put together.

Meningitis Research Foundation's Chief Executive Denise Vaughan said: "The Foundation has been campaigning for many years for pneumococcal vaccine to be introduced into the UK childhood immunisation programme. We are absolutely delighted that it is now being introduced and many young lives will be saved as a direct result."

Ms Vaughan continued: "However, not all forms of meningitis and septicaemia are vaccine preventable, so the public needs to be aware of the symptoms of these diseases. Free symptoms information is available from this website by calling our Freephone 24 hour helpline - 080 8800 3344."

The Meningitis Research Foundation also welcomes the introduction of the Hib/MenC booster as it will ensure that protection against these deadly diseases is maintained at the highest level.

The Hib/MenC booster is a combination vaccine which provides additional protection against two diseases that have been successfully vaccinated against in the UK and across the world for a number of years.

This pneumococcal vaccine has been used in the US since 2000.

By 2003, cases of severe pneumococcal disease caused by the seven strains protected by the vaccine had dropped by 94% in children under five years of age.

It has also reduced cases in the older population by preventing pneumococcal bacteria from being carried in the nose and throat of those vaccinated and being passed on, creating 'herd immunity'.

Information on meningitis and septicaemia is also available from the Foundation's website at www.meningitis.org.

(EF/SP)